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I'm Clifford Stumme, and I use literary analysis and research to explain the deeper meanings of pop songs. Feel free to leave a comment or to email me at clifford@popsongprofessor.com with questions or ideas!

Going Deeper behind the Lyrics

Nov 10

Nov 10 What does "I Did Something Bad" by Taylor Swift mean?

"I Did Something Bad" Lyrics Meaning

"I Did Something Bad" follows the same formula that we heard from "Look What You Made Me Do" or "...Ready For It?" Taylor Swift has turned over a new leaf, and is now a tougher, stronger, harder, version of herself. She's not going to roll over for anyone or wait for someone to come save her. She's ready to take control of her own life even if it means destroying her enemies.

"I don't regret it one bit, 'cause he had it coming"

Taylor truly has had to undergo some rough treatment at the hands of the media and other singers like Kanye West or Nicki Minaj (and possibly Katy Perry), but she's taken it all in stride and even changed her stride to keep up with her enemies. But there's still elements of the old Taylor, and even in the lyrics of "I Did Something Bad," we find a meaning that suggests that maybe she's not quite as far as gone as she wants us to think no matter how hard she wants to hide it.

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Verse 1

I never trust a narcissistBut they love meSo I play 'em like a violinAnd I make it look oh-so-easy'Cause for every lie I tell themThey tell me threeThis is how the world worksNow all he thinks about is me

Taylor is clear that she doesn't trust those who see themselves as the most important person (which serves as an interesting foil to the self-obsessed persona that she seems to be trying on now). Interestingly, those narcissists can't get enough of her and want to be in her crew, so she "play[s] 'em like a violin and makes "it look oh-so-easy." And she doesn't feel bad about using them or manipulating them because even though she's lying to them, they're lying to her far more. She justifies her actions further by claiming that "[t]his is how the world works." She's playing by the rules her enemies have set, and she's come out on top because "all he thinks about is me." She's made even a narcissist's focus around her.

Pre-Chorus

I can feel the flames on my skinCrimson red paint on my lipsIf a man talks shit, then I owe him nothingI don't regret it one bit, 'cause he had it coming

In the pre-chorus, Taylor Swift powers up for the chorus by singing about "flames on my skin" and "crimson red paint on my lips"--perhaps she's talking about tattoos and lipstick--and claims that she "owe[s] . . . nothing" to a man who "talks shit" about her. She's not going to try to appease anyone or to make them feel good when they hurt her. And she doesn't regret using a man who does it because "he had it coming." He deserved everything he got and everything that she gave him.

Chorus

They say I did something bad (bad)Then why's it feel so good?They say I did something bad (bad)But why's it feel so good?Most fun I ever had (had)And I'd do it over and over and over again if I couldIt just felt so good, good

In the chorus lyrics of "I Did Something Bad," Swift reflects on how the media and perhaps her fans see her actions. When she uses someone who has hurt her, the world claims she "did something bad," but she wonders why "it feel[s] so good." The feeling and the claim are opposite to each other, and she seems pretty confident that the feeling is the correct one. She goes so far as to say that it was the "most fun I ever had / And I'd do it over and over and over again if I could." While she's not clear about what exactly this action was, she's happy that she took it.

Post-Chorus

Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, death trapRa-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, death trapRa-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, death trapDeath trap, trap, trap

The post-chorus seems to be Swift describing herself as a "death trap" for those who doublecross or try to use her.

Verse 2

I never trust a playboyBut they love meSo I fly 'em all around the worldAnd I let them think they saved meThey never see it comin'What I do nextThis is how the world worksYou gotta leave before you get left

While the first verse was about narcissists, verse two has her going after "playboy[s]" who think they're good with women and can "play" them. She recognizes them and doesn't trust them even though she inspires actual "love" in them. Having more money than them, she flies "'em all around the world" and lets "them think they saved me," but she's truly the one in control of the situation. When she refers to them thinking they saved her, she seems to be referring to arrogant men who see her as someone who only their true love or relationship will help. They see themselves as some sort of savior who could be the "one and only" that Taylor needs.

When she breaks up with them, "They never see it comin'." She's the one who breaks it off, and she does so because she's learned that this is how the world works: "You gotta leave before you get left." Instead of waiting for someone she's interested in to hurt her, she decides she needs to be the one to initiate the breaking up.

Pre-Chorus 2

I can feel the flames on my skinHe says, "Don't throw away a good thing"But if he drops my name, then I owe him nothin'And if he spends my change, then he had it comin'(ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, death trap)

The second version of the pre-chorus's lyrics changes significantly from those of the first pre-chorus. Here Taylor remembers a man she broke up with telling her to not "throw away a good thing," but the justification she needs to do it anyway comes when he oversteps his bounds and "drops my name." Thus, she feels she "owe[s] him nothin'." What's more, she sings, "if he spends my change, then he had it comin'." Despite the fact that this guy didn't even have the imagination to spend serious amounts of Taylor's money, she feels taken advantage of him and doesn't want to have anything more to do with him.

Bridge

They're burning all the witches, even if you aren't oneThey got their pitchforks and proofTheir receipts and reasonsThey're burning all the witches, even if you aren't oneSo light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up)Light me up, go ahead and light me up (light me up)Light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up)Light me up (light me up), light me up

The first line of the bridge's lyrics refers perhaps to the Salem Witch Trials, a situation where many innocent people were burnt to death because the Puritan populace was afraid of and overly concerned with the destruction of anyone who might be practicing magic. Taylor Swift feels like she's being treated like a witch even though she's able to justify her actions. Her enemies come at her with metaphorical "pitchforks" and what they think is "proof" that she's a terrible person. They even collect "receipts" as proof that she spent money in ways that collaborate their stories.

But what does she say to them? She uses to try to avoid it or wanted nothing to do with it, but now she welcomes the fight and encourages them to "light me up." She's become stronger and can weather the storm.

Outro

Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, death trapRa-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, death trapOh, you say I did something bad(You say I did something bad?)Why's it feel so good, good?So bad, why's it feel so good?Why's it feel, why's it feel so good? (bad)It just felt so good, good

The outro allows Taylor to emphasize the fact that despite the world condemning her actions, she's satisfied with how she feels about what she's done.

Deeper Meaning of "I Did Something Bad" by Taylor Swift: Is the Old Taylor Really Dead?

It's hard for me to believe that the old Taylor really is gone. Several of the songs on Reputation that I've listened to so far sport choruses that seem to be asking for or even begging for the kind of relationships and love that we know the old Taylor wants. Both in "End Game" and in "...Ready For It?" we hear soaring choruses that seem to land right in the middle of a daydream but then quickly give way to verses that darken our perception of Taylor's character.

She may be putting on a facade when she tells stories like the one here in the meaning of "I Did Something Bad," and maybe she truly did do something bad, but she still can't hide herself from us forever.

Hi! I'm a university writing center director who teaches literature classes and loves helping others to understand the deeper meanings of their favorite songs. I'm married to my beautiful wife April and love Twenty One Pilots, Mumford & Sons, Kishi Bashi, and so many others!

Hi! I'm a university writing center director who teaches literature classes and loves helping others to understand the deeper meanings of their favorite songs. I'm married to my beautiful wife April and love Twenty One Pilots, Mumford & Sons, Kishi Bashi, and so many others!